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Post Mortem
Luck has never really been on Chance's side.
Fresh off a five year stint in prison, he's ready to start over, but all his plans come to a halt when he's murdered. Not one to let a little thing like death stop him, Chance sets out to track down his last worldly possession: the coin that brought him back to life.
With his murderer trying to put him back in the grave, the last thing Chance needs is to find a reason to stay alive...
Avery has been a mortician for close to a decade, and though he's had his fair share of strange experiences, he's never had a person wake up on him. When one does, his otherwise mundane life suddenly gets a lot more interesting.
Post Mortem is an ownvoice gay thriller romance with trans MCs, low heat romance, and a HEA!
Content Warning: Death; Emetophobia; Mild to moderate gore/violence and body horror (autopsy scars, mouth trauma); Past Drug Addiction; Drug Usage; References to Homophobia and Transphobia; Suicide; and Referenced Self Harm.
Fresh off a five year stint in prison, he's ready to start over, but all his plans come to a halt when he's murdered. Not one to let a little thing like death stop him, Chance sets out to track down his last worldly possession: the coin that brought him back to life.
With his murderer trying to put him back in the grave, the last thing Chance needs is to find a reason to stay alive...
Avery has been a mortician for close to a decade, and though he's had his fair share of strange experiences, he's never had a person wake up on him. When one does, his otherwise mundane life suddenly gets a lot more interesting.
Post Mortem is an ownvoice gay thriller romance with trans MCs, low heat romance, and a HEA!
Content Warning: Death; Emetophobia; Mild to moderate gore/violence and body horror (autopsy scars, mouth trauma); Past Drug Addiction; Drug Usage; References to Homophobia and Transphobia; Suicide; and Referenced Self Harm.
Paperback
First published May 5, 2021
7 people want to read
About the author
Phelan Reeves
1 book6 followersPhelan is an author and artist from the Canadian Prairies. Though he's always bouncing between a few projects, his bread and butter is Queer Romance (usually m/m, but sometimes he branches out) that feature an element of the supernatural, or fantastical. He's a big fan of ghost stories, death culture, folklore, fantasy, and historical settings.
When not writing, Phelan is a character illustrator, and enjoys playing Dungeons & Dragons with friends.
His pronouns are he/him/his and his name is pronounced either as FAYL-an or FEEL-an, both are correct (though he usually uses the first).
When not writing, Phelan is a character illustrator, and enjoys playing Dungeons & Dragons with friends.
His pronouns are he/him/his and his name is pronounced either as FAYL-an or FEEL-an, both are correct (though he usually uses the first).
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Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews
April 16, 2021
I was provided an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.
Post Mortem is a delightful LGBT romance with lovable characters and a fast paced, engaging plot that will have you hooked and wanting more.
I finished this book nearly in one sitting - once I had gotten to know the characters, the book kept me glued to every page, wanting to know what happened next. The characters are wonderfully well rounded, with distinct and engaging personalities that feel like old friends you could know in real life by just a few chapters into the book. You'll find equal parts humor, heart and mystery here - and Avery and Chance are joined by a cast of varied and interesting side characters too!
At its core, Post Mortem is a story about relationships, regrets, identity, and family. Those looking for a well-crafted LGBT romance need look no further - I am very excited to see more from Phelan Reed!
Post Mortem is a delightful LGBT romance with lovable characters and a fast paced, engaging plot that will have you hooked and wanting more.
I finished this book nearly in one sitting - once I had gotten to know the characters, the book kept me glued to every page, wanting to know what happened next. The characters are wonderfully well rounded, with distinct and engaging personalities that feel like old friends you could know in real life by just a few chapters into the book. You'll find equal parts humor, heart and mystery here - and Avery and Chance are joined by a cast of varied and interesting side characters too!
At its core, Post Mortem is a story about relationships, regrets, identity, and family. Those looking for a well-crafted LGBT romance need look no further - I am very excited to see more from Phelan Reed!
May 1, 2021
I received an advanced copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.
This book isn't what I would have considered to be my preferred genre, and I had decided to read this to help out an indie writer. But boy, was I wrong. This book is great and I totally enjoyed reading it.
The supernatural element of Post Morten is almost zombie, but NOT that scary intense horror film gore brain-eating zombie stuff, which is good in my opinion. It's got just enough of the undead (or return from the dead) element to really spice things up.
The main character(s) being trans was both important and unimportant to the plot. It shaped who the characters are, fleshed them out and gave them more background, but didn't become a requirement for the bones of this story. They all were just people. Amazing, whacky, crazy, loving, annoying people that you wanted to root for (or against).
I learned so much about what it would be like to run a funeral home. It was fascinating knowledge that I never knew I wanted to know.
P.S. Donnie has some of the best lines. Real laugh out loud one-liners. He's my favorite of the supporting characters.
This book isn't what I would have considered to be my preferred genre, and I had decided to read this to help out an indie writer. But boy, was I wrong. This book is great and I totally enjoyed reading it.
The supernatural element of Post Morten is almost zombie, but NOT that scary intense horror film gore brain-eating zombie stuff, which is good in my opinion. It's got just enough of the undead (or return from the dead) element to really spice things up.
The main character(s) being trans was both important and unimportant to the plot. It shaped who the characters are, fleshed them out and gave them more background, but didn't become a requirement for the bones of this story. They all were just people. Amazing, whacky, crazy, loving, annoying people that you wanted to root for (or against).
I learned so much about what it would be like to run a funeral home. It was fascinating knowledge that I never knew I wanted to know.
P.S. Donnie has some of the best lines. Real laugh out loud one-liners. He's my favorite of the supporting characters.
April 24, 2021
I was lucky enough to receive an ARC of this book from the author and I have to say, reading it has been one of the highlights of my year!
Post Mortem is a heartfelt, heart pounding, read featuring well-drawn and unforgettable characters that you'll want to read more about as soon as you've finished the book (good news - I hear a sequel is already in the works!). It was beyond refreshing to read something which featured LGBTQ+ peeps that didn't focus exclusively on the negative experiences we so often have to deal with. This book was an adventure with magic, horror, and hints of romance that anyone alive will love. Pick it up - you won't live to regret ;-)
Post Mortem is a heartfelt, heart pounding, read featuring well-drawn and unforgettable characters that you'll want to read more about as soon as you've finished the book (good news - I hear a sequel is already in the works!). It was beyond refreshing to read something which featured LGBTQ+ peeps that didn't focus exclusively on the negative experiences we so often have to deal with. This book was an adventure with magic, horror, and hints of romance that anyone alive will love. Pick it up - you won't live to regret ;-)
January 17, 2022
When Chance wakes up in the morgue—after being embalmed, no less—he’s left with no choice but to fake (the permanency) of his death and get the heck out of town before the person who ended his life once can do it again.
Post Mortem starts out with this fabulous premise, then builds on it with some interesting characters and strong writing. Unfortunately, though, I felt like it kind of fizzled out because none of the plot lines were full enough to feel satisfying?
There’s a lot going on here: We’ve got a budding romance between Chance and his own funeral director, Avery (who I absolutely love). There’s not really a mystery as to who killed Chance, but there’s a thriller-ish subplot as he tries to collect the magic coin that brought him back to life and escape her. There’s a strong central friendship and some fascinating backstory… I loved all of these aspects but it also just felt like there wasn’t ENOUGH of any of them.
The story only takes place over the course of a few days, so while this bills itself as “low-heat” romance, it’s not fade to black and we have no idea whether the characters will EVER have sex. They’ve just only known each other for a few days, and those are spent running from bad guys, so it just feels natural for the relationship to not be there yet. That said, I would’ve liked to see a LITTLE more of their growing emotional closeness.
Similarly, I wanted more of some great side characters—Donnie, mostly, and why didn’t we get more Roxanne? It’s definitely a good thing that I liked the characters enough to want more… but I wanted more!
Ultimately though I think it was the thriller plot that felt the least satisfying. Since this wasn’t really structured like a romance novel, with the relationship as the main story, I think the whole “getting away from Chance’s murderer” thing was SUPPOSED to be the main storyline, but it was also the one I cared least about. I’m not sure if that was because we basically had a hero who couldn’t die (so, low stakes?) or because the bad guys weren’t very well developed as characters so there was no real human tension, but… I just wasn’t feeling it. I honestly wish there’d been more attention paid to the emotional dilemma of Chance ditching his family and friends for a fresh start, because THAT was definitely a complicated and interesting aspect.
I did enjoy the book overall. Chance, Avery, and Donnie are all great characters and it was a fun read, if not quite a knock-your-socks-off one?
3.5 stars rounded up.
Post Mortem starts out with this fabulous premise, then builds on it with some interesting characters and strong writing. Unfortunately, though, I felt like it kind of fizzled out because none of the plot lines were full enough to feel satisfying?
There’s a lot going on here: We’ve got a budding romance between Chance and his own funeral director, Avery (who I absolutely love). There’s not really a mystery as to who killed Chance, but there’s a thriller-ish subplot as he tries to collect the magic coin that brought him back to life and escape her. There’s a strong central friendship and some fascinating backstory… I loved all of these aspects but it also just felt like there wasn’t ENOUGH of any of them.
The story only takes place over the course of a few days, so while this bills itself as “low-heat” romance, it’s not fade to black and we have no idea whether the characters will EVER have sex. They’ve just only known each other for a few days, and those are spent running from bad guys, so it just feels natural for the relationship to not be there yet. That said, I would’ve liked to see a LITTLE more of their growing emotional closeness.
Similarly, I wanted more of some great side characters—Donnie, mostly, and why didn’t we get more Roxanne? It’s definitely a good thing that I liked the characters enough to want more… but I wanted more!
Ultimately though I think it was the thriller plot that felt the least satisfying. Since this wasn’t really structured like a romance novel, with the relationship as the main story, I think the whole “getting away from Chance’s murderer” thing was SUPPOSED to be the main storyline, but it was also the one I cared least about. I’m not sure if that was because we basically had a hero who couldn’t die (so, low stakes?) or because the bad guys weren’t very well developed as characters so there was no real human tension, but… I just wasn’t feeling it. I honestly wish there’d been more attention paid to the emotional dilemma of Chance ditching his family and friends for a fresh start, because THAT was definitely a complicated and interesting aspect.
I did enjoy the book overall. Chance, Avery, and Donnie are all great characters and it was a fun read, if not quite a knock-your-socks-off one?
3.5 stars rounded up.
February 23, 2022
This book had everything I wanted it to have going in - strong characters with meaningful relationships, and a plot that made me worry about them.
--- Vague spoilers---
It may be an unpopular opinion but I love a twist that I can kinda see coming. there's a twist near the end of this book that, when I suspected it might be coming, I started to really want it to happen. and it did! It was a really satisfying ending, and it made me very interested to see what else happens with these characters, the mechanics introduced and everything else!
--- Vague spoilers---
It may be an unpopular opinion but I love a twist that I can kinda see coming. there's a twist near the end of this book that, when I suspected it might be coming, I started to really want it to happen. and it did! It was a really satisfying ending, and it made me very interested to see what else happens with these characters, the mechanics introduced and everything else!
March 6, 2022
Quality transmasc rep and an entertaining story centered around a guy with a coin which brings him back to life. Would love to see a sequel - the romantic tension between Chance and Avery was never fully resolved, and I'd easily read another two volumes about these characters.
May 3, 2021
Thank you for the ARC, so here’s my honest review!
I loved every single one of the characters. Definitely the highlight if this. They were all real and relatable, and I would happily read books upon books of their every day lives (can I get a Donnie and Terry spin-off, please?). I liked that we were given glimpses into the side characters’ lives and relationships while still keeping the action centered around Chance and Avery.
The pacing was great and really kept things moving. Skipping around on the timeline was a little jarring at times, but each new point did a great job of reorienting and by the end, the flashbacks and jumps fit in very well. The dual POVs worked to establish Avery’s importance to the story, culminating with him getting the coin (if only briefly), though for the most part, it still seemed like he was just a part of Chance’s story.
It’s just overall so refreshing to have stories about trans characters that aren’t trans stories. Their experiences were relatable to me as a trans person but also acted as a window into different trans experiences that I think will help cis people understand that we are all different and that there are so many different ways to be trans.
Some of the writing and continuity was a little rough around the edges, which may have been fixed for the official release. Those little things hardly drew focus away from the story and the characters, though, and for a debut novel, I’d call this a strong opening with a lot of promise! So much love and care was put into these characters and their story, and things can only get better!
Thank you again for the ARC! I can’t wait for more!
I loved every single one of the characters. Definitely the highlight if this. They were all real and relatable, and I would happily read books upon books of their every day lives (can I get a Donnie and Terry spin-off, please?). I liked that we were given glimpses into the side characters’ lives and relationships while still keeping the action centered around Chance and Avery.
The pacing was great and really kept things moving. Skipping around on the timeline was a little jarring at times, but each new point did a great job of reorienting and by the end, the flashbacks and jumps fit in very well. The dual POVs worked to establish Avery’s importance to the story, culminating with him getting the coin (if only briefly), though for the most part, it still seemed like he was just a part of Chance’s story.
It’s just overall so refreshing to have stories about trans characters that aren’t trans stories. Their experiences were relatable to me as a trans person but also acted as a window into different trans experiences that I think will help cis people understand that we are all different and that there are so many different ways to be trans.
Some of the writing and continuity was a little rough around the edges, which may have been fixed for the official release. Those little things hardly drew focus away from the story and the characters, though, and for a debut novel, I’d call this a strong opening with a lot of promise! So much love and care was put into these characters and their story, and things can only get better!
Thank you again for the ARC! I can’t wait for more!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews